Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, addressing the national conference of Haganah Veterans here today, pointed out the tasks still confronting former Haganah members following the Israel Army’s taking over of the state’s functions of security and defense.
Mr. Ben Gurion noted that “great masses are immigrating to Israel mainly from underdeveloped countries” and said that these immigrants should be helped in the process of absorption. A second field of activity which the Prime Minister cited for the Haganah veterans to pur sue was to “explain to and guide the immigrants” in the need for colonization of Israel’s vast deserts. “Without colonization, ” Mr. Ben Gurion stated, “Israel is not safe.”
Another task that he listed for the Haganah veterans was to “impress upon the new immigrants Israel’s independence and vision, which mean Israel decides her own ways and studies all questions in the light of Israel’s historic and present needs.” Without vision, Mr. Ben Gurion continued, Israel would not have been established.
The Prime Minister said that Israel will overcome her political and economic hardships and will continue to develop. Another speaker at the conference was Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, who reviewed Israel’s present political problems.
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